Subscribe here: [ Ссылка ] The Ukrainian president is making his first trip to Germany since Russia launched its invasion. Zelenskyy met Chancellor Olaf Scholz and collected the Charlemagne prize in Aachen.
During trip to Berlin, Ukrainian president says Germany is now Ukraine’s No. 2 military backer. Ukraine’s president vowed to reclaim his entire country while on his first visit to Germany since Russia attacked Ukraine last year, a trip that signaled that the tense relations between Kyiv and its biggest military and financial backer in Europe are thawing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia to accept the prestigious Charlemagne Prize.
According to dpa information, Zelensky was accompanied by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and welcomed by the local state premier, Hendrik Wüst, before attending a ceremony in the city of Aachen.
"A hero of Europe and a great fighter for freedom - welcome to NRW," Wüst wrote on Twitter.
Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish premier Mateusz Morawiecki are among those set to speak during the ceremony in Aachen's city hall later on Sunday.
Ukraine’s president receives standing ovation as he accepts Charlemagne Prize at ceremony in Germany, will travel to Paris later for talks with French counterpart Macron.
Ukraine is fighting for Europe’s freedom and values, European Union leaders said Sunday, as they handed this year’s award for service towards European unity to the war-torn country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people.
“Ukraine incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity,” said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, at the Charlemagne Prize ceremony, in the western German city of Aachen.
“President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for the values and the obligation that this prize embodies. And in doing so, they are also fighting for our own freedom and our values,” she said, in a message echoed by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
For Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russia’s war on its neighbor has “cemented one clear realization: Ukraine is part of our European family.”
Zelensky turned up in person to pick up the prize, while on his first trip to Germany since Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky won long-standing ovations at the Aachen ceremony, during which EU leaders also vowed to support Ukraine along its road to joining the bloc.
Calling Germany a “true friend and reliable ally” to Ukraine, as it battles to repel Russian invaders, Zelensky earlier Sunday held separate talks with Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
‘As long as necessary’
Ukrainian forces have been training troops and stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and hardware that analysts say will be key to reclaiming territory captured by Russia.
Once accused of reticence in supplying military gear to Ukraine, Germany has since become the second-biggest contributor of tanks, rockets, and anti-missile systems to the country, after the United States.
Early on in the conflict, Kyiv had accused Germany of being too accommodating to Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Berlin’s reliance on Russian energy had proved tricky.
Both Steinmeier and Scholz have since visited Ukraine.
On the eve of Zelensky’s visit, Berlin said it would send Ukraine more firing units and launchers for the Iris-T anti-missile system, 30 additional Leopard 1 tanks, more than 100 armored combat vehicles, and over 200 surveillance drones.
Scholz on Sunday reiterated Berlin’s firm backing, telling Zelensky directly: “We will support you for as long as it is necessary.”
Zelensky said he would urge Scholz to support Ukraine’s bid for fighter jet deliveries, though he did not specify if he was seeking aircraft directly from Germany.
‘Inaction’
On the front line, Kyiv said Ukrainian forces have captured more than 10 Russian positions on the outskirts of the flashpoint town of Bakhmut.
Separately, Russia admitted that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the town where fighting has been raging for days.
In a rare announcement of losses on the battlefield, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, Vyacheslav Makarov, and Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, had been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine.
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